Newport...news?

Hello, Blogtypes!
I am procrastinating, big time.
Here is the scenario:
11 months commissioned, and I am at Surface Warfare Officer School in Newport, RI.

For most SWOs, this is great timing. We have a total of 18 months to achieve our Surface Warfare Designation pin, and doing so one must qualify his or her knowledge of a little bit of EVERYTHING relating to Surface Warfare and the Navy. I have qualified in many areas over the last 11 months, including Combat Information Center Watch Officer (the minimum prerequisite for attending SWOS). Most SWOs will come to this school with their last qualification completed, the Officer Of the Deck Underway. When you stand OOD, you represent the Commanding Officer. He designates you as able to make crucial decisions for safe Navigation. You are pretty much the best you will be at your job as a JO by the time you have this qual.

So, being here, this early (having JUST qualified CICWO) shows my Command believes me capable. The problem really stems with the fact that those of us sent were told, about a week and a half before we came here, that we were going to SWOS. We were also in the midst of a VERY involved, multi-ship evolution, giving us no time to study.
So, set up for failure, we have not done well on our tests so far...but ship driving...ship driving we have blown out of the water!
I am very proud of myself in regards to how I handle the ship, and how I navigate, but I am disappointed on how much I am having to catch up to succeed on these tests. I hate that. I much rather be super prepaired, and have time to spare...but, it never seems to be that way.

So, now I am procrastinating, updating y'all in my comings and goings and trying not to freak out about the RULES OF THE ROAD test I have on Monday...which I must score 90% or above to pass.

I'm praying for St. Joseph of Cupertino to help me out on this one...I ask for your prayers too!
Pax et Bonum!